A BIRMINGHAM woman who was forced to marry at the age of 16 has welcomed new laws designed to end the practice in Britain.

But she said she was disappointed the Government backtracked on plans to make forced marriage a criminal offence.

Shazia Qayum, from Alum Rock, was shocked during a family holiday to Pakistan to learn that she was about to marry her first cousin.

She only learned what her parents were planning when she asked them why they were preparing for a wedding.

Now she works for an organisation providing refuges for women in similar situations.

But nine years after escaping from her husband, her parents and entire extended family still refuse to talk to her. Her brother was told she died in a car crash in order to stop him trying to contact her, she said.

Ms Qayum told her story yesterday at the launch in the Foreign Office of a new campaign against forced marriage.

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland and Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman were also present, as Ms Qayum backed new laws allowing courts to intervene when parents attempt to force their children to marry.

She said: "Four days into the holiday they were making preparations for a wedding. I asked my parents who was getting married and they said it was me.

"My passport was taken off me and there was a lot of emotional blackmail. I did go ahead with the marriage because I felt I had no other choice."

Ms Qayum welcomed new laws allowing courts to impose injunctions barring parents from forcing children to marry, which are currently going through Parliament.